Apparatus for forming articles from organic sheet material



' Jan. 28, 1941.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM ORGANIC SHEET MATERIAL OriginalFiled Jan. 51, 1933 E. T. FERNGREN 2,230,189

1O Sheets-Sheet l VIII/Ill DD 23 I 59 2 FIG 5 lnoentor ENOCH 1'.FERNGREN (Ittomeg Jan. 28, 1941.

E. T. FERNGREN APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM ORGANIC SHEETMATERIAL Original Filed Jan. 31, 1933 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG ENOCH TFERNGREN C(ttorneg Jan. 1941- E. T. FERNGREN 2,230,189

APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM ORGANIC SHEET MATERIAL OriginalFiled Jan. 51, 1933- 10 sheet sheet 3 I Z5 'E l I. h .I 1 ,l I Z/ 13/mgmi IIILIIIH /7 f 57 M llmi 1mm J \IZ 3nvenfor .ENOCH T FERNGREN(Ittomeg Jan. 28, 1941. E. T. FERNGREN APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLESFROM ORGANIC SHEET MATERIAL I Original Filed Jan. 31, 1933 10Sheet-Sheet 4 V Z'snventor ENOCH TFERNGREN (Ittorneg Jam 1941- E. T.FERNGREN 2,230,189

APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM ORGANIC SHEET MATERIAL OriginalFiled Jan. 31, 1933 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 ENC-CH T FERNGREN (IttomegZinnentor Jan. 28, 1941.

APBARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM ORGANIC SHEET MATERIAL E. T.FERNGREN 2,230,189

Original Filed Jan. 31. 1933 ldSheets-Sheet 6 attorney Jan. 28, 1941.

E. "r. FERNGREN APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM ORGANIC SHEETMATERIAL 1o Sheet-Sheet 7 Original Filed Jan. 31., 1933 Zhmentor ENOCHI. FERNGREN Jan. 28, 1941.

E. T. FERNGREN APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM ORGANIC SHEETMATERIAL Original Filed Jan. 31, 1955 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 ENOCH I?FERNGREN (Ittorneg Jany28, 1941. E T; FERNGREN 2,230,189

APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM ORGANIC SHEET MATERIAL A OriginalFiled Jan. 51, 1933 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 3m entor ENOCH IT FERNGRENattorney Jan. 1941 E. T. FERNGREN 2,230,189

I APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM ORGANIC SHEET MATERIAL OriginalFiled Jan. 31, 1933 1Q Sheets-Sheet l0 EGZZ linnentor ENOCH T FERNGRENPatented Jan. 28, 1941 APPARATUS FOR FQBHING ARTICLES FROM ORGANIC SHEETMATERIAL Enoch 1'. Fernsren, little Neck, Long Island,

alslgnortol'laxcorpora tion, Hartford,

Conn., a corporation of Delaware Original application January :1, 193:,Serial No. 654,374. Divided and this application May 19,

1938, Serial N0. "8.825

5 Claims. (c1. 18-19) My present invention relates to app ratus forforming articles from organic sheet material and for handling sucharticles automatically subsequent to their formation. The presentapplica- 8 tion is adivision of my prior and copending application,Serial No. 654,374, filed Jan. 31, 1933,

now Patent No. 2,120,328 granted June 14, 1938 for Method of shapingsheet material. The invention as herein particularly disclosed isdirected to the forming of such articles as-cover-all milk bottle caps,but it will be understood that other more or less similar articles suchas cups, containers of different kinds, etc., may also be made byapparatus substantially similar-to that hereinafter specificallydescribed.

I further contemplate that my invention may be employed in malcingblanks which may thereafter be formed by some subsequent operation oroperations into finished articles by other apparatus.

As a starting material from which the articles may be made by theapparatus herein disclosed, I contemplate the use of any suitable typeof orgame sheet material, such for example as cellulosic materials,including paper, regenerated cellulose or esters or ethers of cellulose,alone or mixed or compounded with other suitable materials, includingplastlcizers, resins, fillers, etc. The invention may also be carriedout using other types of sheet material including for example variousplastic materials in sheet form ,either of the thermosetting orthermoplastic types and also including such materials as sheet rubber ofa natural or artificial type and/or other resins. In general, any typeof sheet material alone or suitably compounded, which is suitable foruse in making articles according to the process herein disclosed and bythe apparatus herein-described and claimed, or equivalents thereof, maybe considered within the purview of this invention.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide apparatus for formingarticles from organic material as aforesaid, particularly by the use ofsuitable dies, and preferably also by the use of means acting inconjunction with the dies, first to grasp a portion of a sheet ofmaterial around the periphery of that portion which is to be formed intoan article, then partly to shape the material by deforming it out of itsoriginal plane, then to cut the portion of material to form an articlefrom the remainder of the sheet, and thereafter to complete theformation of the article to the extent desired by the continued movementof the dies toward one another.

A further object of the invention is to provide able impregnatingmaterial, for example molten paraflln. All treating materials which maybe means for the treating of the sheet material as I aforesaid duringthe formation thereof by exposing one or both faces of the material tothe action of a suitable treating fluid, which mayinclude' air or othergas or gases at a desired temperature 3 for chemical treatment orphysical softening of the material or both, and also other fluidsincluding gases, vapors, and liquids, for example water vapor, steam orsome chemical treating fluid for imparting to the material desiredcharacteristics during the forming thereof. Included in this object isparticularly to provide forthe suitable softening of material, such forexample as the softening of regenerated cellulose by treating it withsome suitable softening agent, for example water vapor or steam torender it easily moldable. Also included in this object is to providemeans for treating material, for example a fibrous material, such aspaper pulp in sheet form, with suitconsidered fluids and/or used as suchare to be included in the purview of this invention as herein set forth.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the handling ofshaped separated articles subsequent to their formation, particularly bycausing each article to 'be retained by a selected one of the pair ofdie members by which it was formed upon the separation thereof. This mayand preferably is accomplished by the application of differentialpneumatic pressure to the opposite sides of the article during theseparation'of the dies, preferably through the die or dies.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in conjunctionwith apparatus of the character set forth some means arranged to beassociated with dies to which the articles are retained for receivingshaped articles from the dies by the use of diflierential pneumaticpressure ap-. plied to the articles and thereafter for transferringthearticles to a desired point at which they may be either utilized orplaced in suitable containers for subsequent utilization, preferably bya reverse application of pneumatic pressure efiective on the articles. Afurther object of the invention is to provide apparatus as hereinaboveset forth wherein a plurality of dies and associated means are madeeffective simultaneously and preferably also substantially continuouslyin forming a relatively large number of articles from a long strip orribbon of suitable organic sheet material, which may be supplied to theapparatus from a roll thereof, or other source.

Other and more detailed objects of-the present invention will becomeappar nt from the following description and appended claims when takenin conJunction with the accompanying drawings. 6 in which: V

Figure 1 is a .yiew principally in vertical section through the dieassemblies and related parts Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary viewsprincipally in vertical section diagrammatically illustrating differentsteps in the movements of the dies toward one another and showing thesheet material in the process of formation;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view, principally in elevation showing theoperation of a tractor-type or caterpillar pressing device;

Fig. 5 .is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective and partly in verticalsection of the end portion of a 20 die-carrying cross bar or supportingmember used in the upper chainof the caterpillar pressing device ofFigs. 4nd 5 r Fig. 7 is a side elevation with parts broken away and invertical section of the entire forming machine indicating the locationof the upper and lower forming dies at different points in theirmovements and while they are being heated or cooled;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in verticalsection on the line 88 of Fig. 7, showing the relationship of thesupporting parts to the pressing and forming elements.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in verticalsection of the apparatus showing how the die assemblies are located andacted upon by the controlling cam parts, rails and driving means;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the cross arms or supportingmembers which carry the lower die assemblies, also illustrating thelocation of the device for injecting steam, vapor, air, etc.,

under variable pressure into the dies;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view principally in hor- 45 izontal sectionthrough one of the arms of the injection device;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly invertical section of the injection device, the section being taken on the0 line |2--|2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in verticalsection of the transfer device, showing how the formed articles may besuccessively removed from the dies of the upper series;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view with parts broken away and inhorizontal section of one end portion of the transfer device;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary detail view of certain no mechanism forming apart of the transfer device,

the operation thereof being illustrated in dotted lines;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view principally in elevation and with partsbroken away and in verti-v 65 cal section of a. portion of the transferdevice, showing how articles such as milk bottle caps may be stacked ornested in tubes;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the vacuum and pressuretanks used for the ma- 70 chine, illustrating their relation to thetransfer device; Fig. 18 is a plan view with parts broken away and inhorizontal section of the upper forming dies;

7 'Figs. 19 and 20 illustrate diagrammatically different ways in whichblanks may be from advancing sheet material; 1

Fig. 21 is an elevation of the receiving'or en trance end of the upper,and lower; series of'dles, their supporting parts and the drivetransmission, several of the dies and other parts being broken away toreveal the ejector means operative on the upper die members, and theinjection or suction device for the lower die members;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary view principally in vertical section of thecooperating parts of the upper and lower dies, illustrating the relationof the telescopic and resilientsupporting means for an upper die memberwhen it is depressed into a lower die member;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary view partly in vertical section and partly inelevation of aheat absorbing blowing and refrigerating means used forchilling and imparting rigidity to sheet plastic material or forchilling the die members;

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a formedmilk bottlecap placed on a bottle; and r Figs. 25 and 26 are views in elevationandwith a part of Fig. 25 broken away and in vertical section, illustratingdifferent styles of caps, which may be formed from sheet material by theapparatus of the present invention.

The upper and lower die members I and 2 and their associated parts asshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, are positioned, ready for operation on paper,film, or plastic tissue stock 3, Fig. 4. These die parts, and forming,cutting, stretching trealting and pressing elements, which as actuatedby the mechanisms of the machine proper are progressively adapted,first, to clamp down and hold the tissue; second, to stretch the'tissuewhich is to be out at the point where it is to be exposed to the cuttingedge, or todraw the stock into shape in part or completely beforecutting; third, to cut the sheet successively into blanks ofpredetermined shape; and fourth, to form and draw each blank into theshape of the dies, if it is not previously drawn or shaped. The dies maybe heated or cooled, oiled or paraflined, steamed or wetted, or used forchemical treatment, as conditions and the nature of the materialrequire, in any suitable way, externally or internally, one form hereinshown being an electric heating means 4, best shown in .Figs. 7 and 8.Any plastic material or sheet stock which may in any manner be afl'ectedby heat or thereby rendered soft and pliant, which may requir theremoval of moisture therefnom, may be employed. Many materials within myinvention are more readily conformed to the shape of the dies if heat isemployed. Some materials may be permanently set to the shape of diesonly bymeans of heat. Sheet stock which must be wet in order to beshaped as herein set forth may be speedily dried by the application ofheat from the dies and thus have a permanent shape imparted thereto. Drysteam may also be used and, of course, any cooling agencies. Sui-tablemeans may be used for applying pigments to the dies or paraifined orother coatings to the materials as may be required.

Each die I has a cover plate 5 attached thereto by means of the screws5, Figs. 1 and 22. This plate 5 is provided with a central hub portion1, into which the lower threaded end 9 of a hollow shaft 8 is screwed.The hollow shaft] of each upper die assembly has a larger diameter rimedge ID at its upper end which normally overlaps and rests on a shoulderH of a hollow shaft l2. A compression spring l3, which surrounds theshaft '8, is instrumental in maintaining this relationship and extendsbetween the upper face of the hub portion 1 of the plate 5 and the lowerend of the shaft I2, this spring being further compres- 5 sible to actas a shock absorber during the downward movement of the shaft I2 toadvance the die I into engagement with the lower die 2.

The shaft l2 of the upper die member is slidable in an associated hollowguiding standard ll of a supporting member I5. The upper end of theshaft I2 is securely joined to a hollow hub part It of a depressingmember II, Figs. 5 and 22. Compression springs I8, which are shown assurrounding several of the standards ll,- Figs. 1, 5,

8 and 22, normally serve to support the member I1 and all the upper diemembers in the position of the parts shown in Fig. 1, with the upperface of the die plates 5 touching the lower face of the member I5, thesprings I8, when compressed, permitting the dies I to be moveddownwardly when the member I1 is acted upon by suilicient compressingforce or is given a positive downward movement in the direction of thelower dies as shown in Fig. 9.

The upper dies I are thus yieldingly supported from the member I5 andyieldingly connected to the depressing member H, the springs I3 servingto cushion the downward thrust of the shafts I2 and to modify the amountof compressive force used during the reshaping or the formative dwell ofthe die members upon the material which is being shaped, see Fig. 22.

Each upper die I has associated therewith a cylindrical cutting knifeI9, which is vertically adjustable relative to the die by a threadedconnection 20, so that the sheet material may be cut into blanks at theproper instant, before or after the lower end or the lowermost portionof the upper die contacts with or bears down against the material. It isessential that the cutting action of the knife I9 be adjustable to suitdifferent materials or their conditions of rigidity, tendency to tear,yieldability and flexibility. For instance a relatively fragile, soft orextensible sheet tissue such as regenerated cellulose or the like mustbe impressed, tensioned or stretched taut before it is cut. This isaccomplished by first engaging the tissue or sheet stock between the diemembers as shown in Fig. 2,

before it iscut or engaged by the cutting knife, after which the knifeI9 may cut through the stock 3, or coact with a cooperating shearingsurface or edge 45 cleanly to cut the sheet, film or tissue stock.

The first portion of the upper die assembly to engage the sheet stock ortissue should normally be a cylindrical clamping member 2I, whichsurrounds the knife and the die assembly, but is not strictly a partthereof, as it is largely independent of any movements given to the dieproper. However, this sheet holding clamp is actuated from any pressureapplied from the members I5 in a downward direction, which assists inclamping'the tissue. The clamp member 2I is normally mounted upon thelower face of member I5, by means of screws 22, Fig. 18, but may alsohave an individual vertically movable support and is so adjusted withrelation to a cooperating clamp member 23 of the lower die that when thedies are brought opposite one another, the sheet stock will be instantlyheld by compressible elastic rubber facings 25 and 26, by means of whicha cushion is formed at the edges 21 and 28 of the clamp parts.

The lower clamping member 23 has a V-shaped to all the dies which aremounted annular recess in its upper edge into which th tapered portionof the upper edge or rubber part 25 will fit when the die assemblies arebrought together.

The upper die part I has an inner space 22. 5 Fig. 1, which communicateswith a passage ll within the tube 8 and the hollow shaft I2. Thispassage acts as a conduit forair or other fiuid, gases or liquid undersuitable pressure and temperature to be used, if the sheet materialcalls 10 for a specific treatment during the shaping operation in thedies. As herein shown these passages are used for delivering air underpressure into the molding cavity of the upper die member to eflectdelivery of the shaped article or to eject 15 or free the article priorto delivery or to confine the article to either the upper or the lowerdie with which a similarly arranged delivery device may cooperate at anysuitable point. The lower die members may function to deliver any typeof article which is pres-formed in-the device, in which case air underpressure is communicated pn the same cross arm or member II at suitablepoints in the path of the lower dies after the upper dies are withdrawnfrom contact therewith.

The air or fluid admitted to the enclosed space 29 within each upper dieis released or forced out through two series of small orifices 3| and 32arranged at suitable points in the walls 33 and 34 of the die I, whendirect treatment by fluid contact or pressure or action on sheet stockby gases or other media is desirable. Another purpose of these orificesin the die, is to admit air under pressure between the exposed formingface of the die and the inner surface of the flat sheet material thanhas been shaped therein, the air being admitted at the time of ejectionor delivery of a completed article from the forming member I, especiallywhen a transfer device is employed, 0 see Fig. 13, or as otherwise maybe the case, directly to a receiving tube, a capping device, or onto theneck of a bottle.

With reference to the direct delivery of a milk bottle cap or any othercap to a bottle neck, no transfer device will be needed if thearrangement of the die parts is such that the lower dies drop away fromthe upper dies while the upper dies are still continuing to advancealong their horizontal path for a short distance. This 5} providesclearance space for free downward ejection of the caps or articles fromthe lower dies and their retention by the upper dies as the lower diesare being inverted to start on their return travel to meet the upperdies. 5

The die 2 has a. hollow interior space 35, Fig. 1, communicating with anenclosed space 36, Figs. 1 and 9, of a lower supporting member 31. Whenair or other fluid under pressure is admitted to the spaces 36 and 35,it will pass through two series of orifices 38 and 39 tov the outside ofthe wall 10 of the lower die 2 and will disengage the formed'sheet stocktherefrom. These conduits may also serve to admit water, steam, solvent,vapor, parafilnor gases for chemical or 65 other treatment of thearticles.

A raised hub ll of the supporting member 81 has an inner threaded face42, Fig. 1, for holding the threaded shank 43 of the die 2. This. hubalso has an outer threaded wall portion 45 for 70 adjustably holding thelower clamping member 23 in a desired position relative to the upperclamping member 2I to insure that the sheet stock will be securelygripped in the V-shaped groove '46 .between the rubber coated edge partsII 25 and 26 when the respective die assemblies are caused to approacheach other.

The extreme inner edge 45 of the clamping member 23 should preferably befree from any rubber coating, so that this edge may coact with the knifel9 to cut out the blanks from the sheet stock. The members I5 are shapedto aiford clearance spaces 5| near their outer ends for the reception ofrollers 48, which are mounted in bearings 49 at the outer ends of thedepressing member l1.

The rollers 48, of which one isprovided at each end of the member I1,are advanced into contact with fixed cam rails 50 during the engagementperiod of the dies I and. 2. The rails 50 are so shaped that the rollers45 at the springsupported opposite ends of the'member 11, will togetherwith that member be depressed .or'

moved a like distance toward the member II, the clearance spaces 5| atthe opposite ends of the member l5 permitting this displacing movement,Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive.

The cam rails 50, of which two are provided, function to depress theopposite ends of the depressing members l1 equal distances vertically,while these members are carried onward by the supporting members l5,which are moved horizontally at this particular time. During thisoperation, the springs I8 and ii are compressed and the upper dieassemblies are actuated by the depressing action of the rails 50 on themembers I1 to tension, cut and shape the sheet material.

All the members l5 are pivotally connected at their opposite or outerends, at two points, by means of link-shaped portions 52 of the membersand pins 53, each link being connected to the succeeding and followinglink of the adjacent members l5 to form an endless chain of thesemembers. Each of the pins 53 also functions to support a roller 54 atits outer end adjacent to the outside face of each link 52; the rollersbeing held to the pins by means of heads or flanges thereon.

As shown in the diagrammaticlayout, Fig. 4, the respective links 52 atthe ends of the membars of the upper series of dies form a con-- tinuouslink chain belt, which is advanced by means of sprocket wheels 55 and54, the arrangement being duplicated at the opposite ends of the membersl5. In this way, a rigid reliable construction is provided that permitsof a continuous movement of all the die parts without any shifting orweaving.

The hollow supporting members 31 for the lower die members are providedwith links 51 connected by pins 58, each of which carries a roller 59.The distance between pivot points for the members 31 of the lower linkassembly is the same as that of the upper link assembly,

so that the lower dies 2 will be brought successively into registry withthe upper dies I along their cooperative faces and edge parts. The lowerlink assembly is mounted for movement about sprocket wheels 14 and 18.

Machines of this type may have any suitable number of links. The numberof die-carrying upper and lower members i5 and 31, which are inengagement, may be considerably increased. The drawings show only threeof these die-carrying members coming simultaneously under pressureactuation from the depressing rails 50. By adding more die-carryingmembers, a longer period of contact may be afforded between each seriesof dies and the material that is being pairs or hinders the operation ofthe various mechanisms of the device.

The sprocket wheels 55 and 14 arecarried by hollow shafts ill and 11respectively, Fig. 7, which are rotatable in bearings 63 and 64, thesebearings being respectively supported from frame 65 of the machine bythe provision of projecting arms or brackets Cl.

The shaft II is rotated by means of a worm wheel 51 that is driven by aworm C8, the worm I being mounted on a vertical shaft 69, which isdriven by a suitable source of power shown as comprising a motor 10, aspeed reducing means 1| and a gear train including bevel gears 12 and13. The arrangement is such that the same speed is imparted in theopposite direction to the sprocket wheels 14 of the lower die assemblychain drive by means of a worm 15 on the shaft ll and a worm wheel 15,which is mounted on the outer end of the shaft 11 of the lower chaindrive.

The opposite sprocket wheels 18, which engage the rollers 59 of thelower die assembly are normally idlers and are driven by the motion ofthe links 51. The same is true of the sprocket wheels 55 of the upperdie assembly, which arenormally rotated by the movement of the links 52.

A stationary pipe 6|, Figs. 4, 7 and 9, is surrounded by a cylindricalcasing 19, to the opposite ends of which the sprocket wheels 55 aresecured, the casing 19 being supported by and rotatable in bearings 63A.The casing 19 carries nozzles 80, Figs. 9 and 21, which are adapted toregister with the upper ends of the hollow shafts l2 of the upper dieassemblies, as shown in Fig. 9. As the hollow shafts I2 are moved aroundthe pipe 5| by the sprocket wheels 58, each nozzle 80 is brought intoregistry with an opening II in the pipe 5| from which it receives adischarge of compressed air. This air is transmitted from the pipe 6|,through the nozzle 80 and the passage 30, Fig. 1, into the space 29 ofthe upper die I and thence through the passages or perforations 3| and32 to the outside face of the die, with the effect of immediatelydislodging the shaped material therefrom. This dislodged material isthen received by a suction head of a transfer mechanism, as will be morefully hereinafter described.

The hollow supporting members 31, which sustain the greater percentageof r the downward pressure of the upper die members I against thecorresponding lower die members 2 during the association of the rollers48 with the cam rails 50, would under certain conditions of length andif supporting a large number of dies, be inclined to bend downwardlyintermediate their supported ends. To overcome this difficulty, all thearms 31 are also supported centrally by means of parallel continuousball races 92, Figs. 8 and 9, that are located centrally within thelower.-

webs 95 of the main supporting frame 65 by means of brackets 94 andbolts 66, Fig. 8.

Each ball race 92 is formed in two separate parts 91 and 98, into whichgrooves have been cut, as shown in Figs. 8 and 21. The lower side ofeach arm 31 is provided with a suitable recess or groove 9|, the contactfaces of which.

advance the balls 90 in the races 92. The parts 91 and 89 are suitablyreceived in socket portions of the cross bars 93 and may be secured inposition by bolts as shown best in Fig. 8.

The hollow supporting members 31 receive a supply of compressed air Itema series of nozzles 93, Figs. 8, 10,11,12 and 21, which are successivelyin continuous engagement with receiving openings 94 located in the lowerfaces of the hollow supporting members 31 and beneath the cam rails 50and where the upper die members are still in engagement with the lowerones. The object is to create a sumcient pressure between the sheetmaterial and the outer faces of the lower die members. so that a pressedobject will normally be released from the lower die the instant theassociated upper die is elevated bythe action of the springs I8. The airadmitted under pressure from the space 36 into the separate space 35 ofeach lower die member 2 then flows outwardly through the perforations 39and 39, thus positively preventing adhesion of the sheet material to thelower die or the creation of a vacuum therebetween'and thuspositively'causing the sheet article to be retained by the upper die atthe instant of separation thereof from the lower die.

As best shown in Figs. 8, 10, 11 and 12, the nozzles 93 are carried byarms 95, which are extensions from a central slip-over hood 96. The hood96 is rotatably mounted on a hollow standard 91 by means of a dependingpin portion 99 of the hood 96, which passes through a hole I in theupper wall of the standard 91 and by which the hood part is mounted forrotation about the standard while being held, thereto by a nut 99threaded on the pin 99 and separated from the upper wall of the standard91 by a washer IOI.

The hollow standard 91 is mounted in a U- shaped bearing I02 having hubsI03 and flanges I04, the latter ofwhich, are secured to the cross bar 93by bolts I05; The standard 91 is provided with a shaft I06 at its lowerend, which is slidable in the hubs I03 of the bearing I02 and is urgedto the position shown in Fig. 12 by a compression spring I 09' extendingbetween one arm ofthe bearing I02 and the standard 91. The parts areshown in Fig. 12 in the positionthey occupy when one of the nozzles 93is going into or out of engagement with an opening 94 of a.

supporting member 31.

As shown .in Figs. and 21, one of the nozzles 93 is in position toengage an opening 94 while another nozzle is just. goin out f n a ementwith another opening 94 of an adjacent supporting member '31, thesemembers being continuously moved. During each engaging period of thetapered engaging portion I01 of the nozzle 93 with the opening 94, thestandard 91 is caused to reciprocate in a horizontal plane, the shaftI96 serving to retain the standard 91 in a rigid upright position, whilea reciprocating motion is imparted thereto in the bearing I02. Thespring I09flquickly moves the member 91 in one direction, while thesupporting members 31 cause a movement thereof in'the opposite directionagainst the spring as the nozzle is moved by the arms 31'in a straightline along the groove I09, Fig. 10. v

Each nozzle 93 has a freely rotatable head portion IIO suitablysecured-tea verticallyreciprocable portion. III, which is provided witha flange member H2 at its lower end. The flange member II2 serves as aretainer for a ball II3. A. compression spring II4 extending between theflange member H2 and the ring-shaped end of the arm 95 normally keepsthe nozzle body portions III and H0 in their lower positions; while the.cam groove in plate II5 functions to raise the nozzle body portions IIO,III and H2 at'a predetermined point to align and thrust the tapered endI01 thereof into the tapered opening 94 of the member 31. At this time alaterally open chamber H6 in the nozzle portion III is in alignment witha passage II1 of the arm 95, which then moves into alignment with alateral opening II9 of a space or bore II 9 of the standard 91, themovement being progressive and so arranged that the full registration ofthe openings in these parts will occur slightly before the shaft I2 ofeach upper die assembly is elevated by the expansion of the springs I9.

At the time of such registration, compressed air flows from the space II9 through the passage H1 and thence upwardly into the space 36 of thesupporting member 31 by way of a passage I in the head of the nozzle.

Compressed air may be conducted to the member 91 through a pipe PM and aflexible hose I22, Fig. 12, but may also be admitted from a flexiblehose I23 through a side coupling I24, as shown in Fig. 8. By thisinjection device, of which two separate sets should be used, one at eachend of the supporting members 31, a pressure considerably aboveatmospheric may be established inside the space of each lower die 2 forthe release of a formed object therefrom. This mechansim may also beused for supplying steam,"

water or other fluids for treatment of sheet stock. When so employed,two separate cooperating devices are located to operate on the dies asthe sheet material is being cut into blanks. As each nozzle 93 isinserted into the corresponding opening 94 and is moved by thesupporting member 31 along the straight path defined by the groove I09,the ball H3 at the lower end of the nozzle eventually arrives at thepoint of cam plate 5;

' cation of each air pressure distributing device should be at the sidesof the ball races 92 and atthat end of the lower die circuitwhere thedies I and 2 are directly below those parts of the pressure rails 50where the downward pressure imparted by said rails to the upper dies isnearly completed, so that ample'compression will be established in thespaces 35 and along all the lower ,die faces before the upper dies arepermitted to recede upwardly therefrom by the upward slope of thepressure rails 50.

All the die-carrying supporting members I5 are supported during theirhorizontal runs by upper rails I25 and lower rails I26.

The lower die-supporting members 31 are supported by rails I21 and I23.so that all the dies of the ,upper and lower series may register withoutany deviation as they are brought 1 together and simultaneously advancedin the same direction.

The lower rails I23 for the upper series of dies should be so shapedalong their upper edges as to cause a slight closing in toward oneanother of the clamping members 2| and 23. The rails I21 for the lowerseries of dies may likewise have a slight upward curve to cause anintimate relatlonshlp oi the sheet-gripping parts 25 and 26 prior to thedownward thrust on the rollers 43 of the depressing members I1 by therails 53. The

'rails II, when exerting their downward pressure on the depressingmembers I1 and the springs I3, thus also function within limits to causethe clamping parts 2i and 23 to approach each other. All the rail partsmay be adjusted vertically by suitable means comprising screws I23 andI33. Other expedients, such as wedges, maybe used in'the adjustment ofthe rails in respect to their supporting arms I3I, I32, I33 and- I34,Fig. 8. By these expedients the exact amount of contact pressure may bereadily established between the clamping members 21 and 23 as they arebrought into alignment during the rotation of the companion pluraldriving sprockets II and 14.

All the sprockets used may be driven in unison, if this is required, andmay function to impart intermittent as well as continuous movement ofthe links and dies.

, 85 In operation, a sheet of suitable material is supplied in the formof a roll I36, Fig. 4, from which the sheet is fed onwardly between theupper and lower series of clamps 2| and 23, which engage the sheet asthey approach one another 40 and by which means the sheet is advanced inthe direction '-in which the series of dies I and 2 are being moved.

As the assembled means for acting upon the sheet stock, Fig. 1, arebeing moved horizontally with the sheet material 3, the coacting diemembers operate to stretch, impress, tension and shape the clampedsections of the sheet, while the knives I9 cut out blank sections I31from the sheet stock. These sections I31, because of 0 the actionthereon of the die members I and 2,

have become definitely aligned with the projecting portions of the dies,so that, when they are out free, each partly shaped-blank portion 01-section will remain in correct position relative to the 5 dies forsubsequent operations.

In the case of milk bottle caps, the cut-out blanks I31 are circular, asindicated in Figs. 19 and 20, and the successive series of devices withblank cutting knives may be so located that the perforations. throughthe sheet will occur in alignment, as shown in Fig. 19, or in staggeredrelation to,one another, as shown in Fig. 20. The latter method is moreeconomical since -a greater number of caps may be produced per yard ofmaterial consumed. To accomplish this, the die-carrying supportingmembers I5 and 31 are made narrower so that the respective clampingparts may be brought closer together and arranged in staggered relationto one another. Rolls I38 and I39 act to direct the flat sheet .stock 3into its horizontal run, Fig. 4. and assist in keeping the sheetmaterial in a taut condition, considered as a whole, pending and duringthe action thereon of the dies. After the 73 sheet stock has been actedon by the respective knives I3 in the forming means. the perforatedskeleton of the sheet is wound up on a take-up spool I43. This member ispreferably driven by. means of a clutch in a synchronized fashion withrespect to the constantly growing diameter of 5 the spool and at aperipheral speed equal to the lineal speed of the sheet.

In order to maintain this condition the actual speed of rotation of thewinding spool I43 is gradually reduced as the roll of sheet stock there-10 on increases in diameter. Details of this mechanism are not shown. astheyare not considered as being a part of this invention and any wellknown slip-clutch drive may be useda The actual performace of the dies Iand 2 on 15 the sheet stock is partly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Asshown in Fig. 2, the first forming action on the sheet stock occurs asthe blank section I31 held between the parts'2I and 23 is exposed to thedownward thrust of the wall portion 20 34 of the die I .on one sidethereof, while the opposite side of the blank encounters the rigidresistance of an annular surface portion I44 of the die member 2, bothof these material-contact die portions being pushed in oppositedirections be- 25 fore the blank section is cut free from the sheet bythe action of the knife I9.

If the sheet material possesses a fair degree of plastic extensibility,the knife I3 may be properly located about as shown in Fig. 3. On theother 30 hand, if the sheet tissue should be of relatively rigidmaterial, the position of knife I3 should be as indicated in Fig. 2.Many materials can be considerably softened by the application of steam,in which case the die member 2 should be kept at 3 a relatively lowtemperature'prior to the ejection of steam from the small orifices 38and 33 thereof, which will then cause a condensation of vapor on thelower side of the blank I 31 and on the exterior surface 43 of the die.This moisture will be 40 quickly absorbed by cellulosic or other typesof more or less porous or absorptive materials with the result thatvarying degrees of wilting occurs, which renders such materials quitepliable to reshaping with some degree of stretching. If the 43 1 upperdie member'i is maintained at a suitable elevated temperature relativeto the material to be acted upon, a permanent set may be given even tovery rigid fibrous stock.

If the material to be acted upon in the'dies is W of the rigid kind, theblank may be cut immediately the clamping action has taken place, inwhich case the knife I9 should be located as shown in Fig. 1. Also steammay be immediately released from the orifices 33 and 39 to assist in 5producing a pliable condition in such material.

Stretching of the sheet blank I 31, as shown in Fig. 2, is useful whencutting blanks from such materials known commercially as "Cellophane,"

Kodap'ak, also gelatine or casein base tissues or wrapping materials,the stretching of the sheet blank close to the clamping point enablingclean cutting without tearing.

In Fig. 3, there is shown two progressive stages during the finalshaping of the blank after it has Many sheet materials are quite fragilein handling, particularly when being reshaped under such formingoperations as would require a thinning out of the body of the sheetmaterial. To avoid any possibility of rupture and of tearin during theshaping of such materials according to the present process, the dieparts are so related to one another that the sheet blank will havecontact on only one face thereof with a rigid surface of the die membersat any one point acted upon by said members, for which reason aclearance space is provided between such surfaces as I of the upper dieand I42 of the lower die.

Such spacing is provided at all points where interentrant parts ofcooperating dies are caused to operate in opposite directions on thesheet material, the result being that the material is free to adjustitself in several directions at the same time while it is beingstretched, extended in'body, or bodily moved into final position asdetermined by the most prominent projecting portions of the dies. Asindicated in Fig. 2, while the projecting portions I 43 and I are aremoving a portion of the tissue in the clearance space provided betweenthe side faces Ill and I42, the contact of-the rigid points on theopposite sides of the tissue are spaced apart and each is active on oneside only of the sheet stock, which thus has a chance to stretch and toadjust itself without being ruptured or structurally weakened. In thisconnection, a temporary increase in toughness or plasticity of thematerial as induced by various agents such as heat, gases or fluids is avaluable adjunct as above set forth.

The outer toothed sections of the dies are likewise spaced from oneanother in staggered rela-- tion, so that the sheet stock is practicallydrawn into pleats by the movement in opposite directions thereagainst ofthe outer solid surface portions of the teeth of the dies, the sheetmaterial being free in the spaces between the projecting portions untilthe dies are in final position. At that time contact preferably shouldoccur along the more extended surface portions of the dies, as forinstance between surface 33 of the upper die and the face 80 of thelower die, the tissue or sheet stock portion I45 being practicallyfreely suspended as between points I43 and I.

This space allowance between the forming means, not only allows freedomto the material so that it cannot be pinched between coacting shapingparts, but also permits the handling of two or more layers orthicknesses of sheet material during the entire operation of blankingout, shaping and also of other treating. Thus, for instance, a thinsheet of casein or a gelatin composition may be run through the machinein the same manner as a sheet of Cellophane.

When transparent sheet materials, of the kind mentioned in the precedingparagraph, are simultaneously advanced from several sources or fromdifferent spools and brought between the upper and lower series ofadvancing blank clampmg devices and a plural layer blank area is cuttherefrom and progressively acted upon by the dies in the presence of amoist atmosphere which is at a lower temperature than the dies, whichnormally should be heated, a temporary softening occurs which causes thelayers of the several sheets to gum or bind together into a practicallycohesive body as the forming is completed under slight pressure of theopposite die elements.

Layers' or sheets of nitro-cellulose, cellulose acetate, benzy celluloseor other water-proof sheet materials may be operated upon, if in themanufacture of such sheets sufficient plasticising agents or gummymaterials are incorporated with the cellulose plastic materials. Suchsheet materials may then be rendered soft or adhesive by heating or byexposure to solvent vapors during the shaping action. Layers of suchsheet materials may likewise be laminated, but preferably in such anoperation, the forming tools or dies should normally be at a lowertemperature than the material, and by contrast the atmosphere or airused or injected into the dies should be dry and heated, independent ofand with or without any softening solvent vapor component in such air oratmosphere.

Heated dies or molds are sufllcient .for the reshaping of many kinds ofwetted or dry sheet material, but at the time of separation from thedies of sheet stock formed therein, the removal of the finished articlesis facilitated by the use of compressed air which has been cooled beforeit is used. The arrangement shown in Figs. 13 and 16 illustrate howcompressed air is used to eject a shaped cap I16 from the die I, whilevacuum action is operative or caused to be operative through a receivinghead II! to effect a quick transfer of the pressed article from the die.

The principal utility ofthe transfer device shown in Figs. 13 to 17 isto remove and carry light weight, fr agile tissue or film objects fromthe dies I to a position where they are nested or packed automaticallyinto containers or tubes I49. These objects canbe delivered, nested andpacked in open form without distorting their shape.

The transfer device generally indicated at I48 comprises a series oftubular radially movable arms I50, the inner ends I5I of which areslidably mounted in a plurality of successive series of radial bores orhollow hub extensions I 52, which are arranged lengthwise of a revolublecasing I53. The casing I53 is arranged to" be revolved around astationary two-compartment air conducting member I54, by means of ashaft extension I55, mounted in bearings I56, only one of which isshown, Fig. 16.

Each series of tubular arms I50 extending from the casing 853 is shownintegral with a channel-snapped connecting bar I5I. Each of these barsI57, of which six are shown, is slidably suported at its outerhousing-shaped ends I58, Fig. 14, in guides I59, so that all the armsI50 of a series may be simultaneously moved outwardly or inwardly in theradial hub extensions I52. The rollers I60, of which one is provided ateach housing end i58 of the bars I5'I, act to move the bars I51 radiallyinwardly against the compression of springs. I6I, which extend betweenthe face I62 of the casing I53 and thebar I51, when the rollers aremoved inwardly by contact with or by being advanced along inwardlycurved portions of cam rails I64. The springs I6I tend to move the barsI5'I outwardly when said bars are freed for this movement by the camrails I84 or other confining cam members.

Each bar I51 carries hinged thereto a bracket structure I65, to which issecured a series of receiving heads Id'l. Each head IN is connected tothe outer end of a tubular arm i5Il by means of a nipple Hi8 and arubber sleeve iB'I, thus providing a flexible hollow joint between eachhead I41 and the associated tubular arm i50. The head I" may, therefore,be tilted at an angle when going into registry with the con- 8 aas iao Itinuously advancing die I- of the upper series with a compressedair.conduit' I84 forming a of dies when removing ornreceiving a formedpart of the member I54 as the casing"! moves object therefrom. theopening of the hub extension past the ori- The tilting operation of aseriesof the heads flcial outlet thereof. At this time compressed I41 isaccomplished in unison by means of two air passes through the tube ISIIand ducts I14, 5 crank members I64, which are secured to and therebyreleasing and forcibly urging the cap rigid with the bracket I" adjacentto the hinge downwardly into the receiving tube I49. Be-

I points I thereof at the ends of the bracket. cause of this form ofdelivery of the cap I46 R ller J" at the outer ends of the cranks I"from the head- I41, the cap will retain itself in a 10 come intoperiodic engagement with cam tracks horizontal, position whilemovingvertically 10 Ill, one of which is arranged at eachend or the downwardlyagainst the air column in the tube bracket, as indicated in Figs.- 13and 14. In I40 until it'settles into the preceding cap within this way,the bracket III is tilted progressively the tube, d rin i'otation ofthe'caslns III tobring The movements of all the mechanisms conlo theheads I41 into registry with the dies I. nected with each series ofheads I" will be alike 15 P110! the li P i d of each bracket I at allpoints of operation. A tank I86 serves as and the series of heads I 41assimilated ther w a container for compressed air, while a tank I81 theroller I of the associated bar IE1 is ad- I is connected with a suitableair exhausting ap-v v nc y the rotation f the 0883!!! toe 'paratus. Aconduit-I88 forms awsuction passage P in beyond the limit 0! the rail I.s D for the air withdrawn through the heads I41. A 20 mitting theexpansion of the springs These pipe in is connected to the conduit I 84for the prin e, w l! releaBed 1 confinement. delivery of compressed airthereto. will thrust the channel bars I" outwardly Each rotary cam IOIis'actuated by a pinion ,therebyscauslng the ends II. thereof to move a,which is driven by a gear IQI. Each gear "'25 t ally outwardly alone theu des I" and m is keyed to the shaft I55, as shown at I92,

' o s the tubes in end the heads and is rotated at the same speed as thecasing radially outwar ly r lative tothe casing'lltwinhnqllll, therelation being such that the cams I8l v The ac u e a iv approach o headsoperate at required-instant" tothe dies I may be considered lie-V1118 tomove the associated cam members I19 against eral components of motion,as during the tilt- [t 11 u. 3 ins of the r ck II by e m oo If thearticle formed should be a parafflned tionof the cranks I", the rollersIll and the mug for a drinking c 1t pleated side walls, cm "I. t mi eare s r extendedand it should be d ed to deliver the article thus 9 mmulled and "dial with all the pleats flattened out to provide a uniasmotion for the heads form, substantially cylindrical body, the die I Atthis in the movemeyt preferably consist of a plunger a M thedie-carrying l a t "tar? shape like an inverted truncated cone with a fr e when the ailment of h heads smooth exterior, or at least withoutprojecting of the dies I is as shown in Fig. 13, suction is m mu shouldbe classified as. such applied mmnment In in h member The die I for suchan operation should 'consist 40 I84 through a passage in and ducts II4.Atof dmwardly tapered cavity having a series this time a port op e theconduct of side wall corrugations or ridges to form the" ins mem let!!!full e w the 1101- pleats. In such a case withheated and paraflow hubextension I52, thus causing an immefined otherwise coated u vacuumshould 5 diate adherence of a completed cap I to a be employed along tdeepest receses receivins form 10mins P of the entrant spaces betweenthe corrugations or ridges As this is bein accompli hed. h rollers inthe die 2 at the instant of cutting the blank at the .outer faces I",Fig. 14, of the housing m draw and distribute the sheet blank of paperends of the her bmueht mm or of transparent plastic material into theside with the 15085 movable cavities between the ridges of the die 2,while the "which are hinged at mint the m plunger of the die I moves theblank body as a Y rails I04. While the parts are thus positioned, h lalong its center portion to the full depth the movable cam parts I'llare moved radially f th main nt r cavity in th di 2,

inwardly in 8 dll'ectlen w d the casing I" In order to provide aneflecti've vacuum'action,

as by rotary cam members The o e t of the pipe I22, Fig. 12, should beconnected to the as each rotary member I is relatively rapid with vacuumtank I81, by which expedient the air can I the result that the bar I".he tube and t f be evacuated from the spaces 38 0! the lower rec vin hed ere lmmedietely moved molding elements or dies 2 and from the space 36wardly toward the casing I68. Thus. the head within the supportingmember 81. The proce- 60 I4! is almost instantly remov d fr m h Dmxdureis that the successive nozzles I; are caused so imityof the die memberI,sothat clearancewiii to register withthe openings 94 of successiveit-P w n h t s p s "t cross arms or'supporting members I! for theproceed on their rotational paths. withdrawal of .air from the spaces asthrough the During the rotation oi the several arms and passages I2. andIII. This will result in the 55 heads I" from their receiving positionto the creation of a positive pressure on the upper side 05 P n f iv ry.h h llow h l l n of the tissue "or sheet blank as it is being cut andthe e I'll of each head I41 is open d from the sheet body because of therapid evacuato suction .at two eonsecutivepointsby means tion of'airfrom the cavities of the die 2, through I of small port openings I82 andIll in thehtathe orifices or passages II and 39-. 'I'his'will causetionary air conducting member Ill. so that the @thesheet material of thecut blank closely to fol-- 7o cap may be retained on the forin Ili untilit low and dip into the cavities of the die 2 as the air arrives at thepoint of election from the head pressure within such cavities is reduceddue tov I 41, which should be vertically downward, the suction actionfrom the chambers 35 and I6.

' As shown in Figs. 13 and 16. the interior or the thepassages III andIII and the conduit I22. 5

'75 hollow hub extension III may also communicate At the same time thedie I is acting mechaniu aaaoaso cally to form the center portion of theblank.

.which forms the normally raised bottom portion of a drinking cup.

When a drinking cup blank, thus formed, is released from the die 2 orthe lower forming as the cooperating forming means or dies separate, thepleats on .the blank body are readily flattened down on the projectingportion of the upper forming member. The receiving cavity portion of thetransfer head I" corresponds generally to the exterior shape of theupper die member. As the cavity in the member H1 is advanced closely tosurround the projecting section of the article or such section isbrought forward to meet and engage the cylindrical cavity in the head I41, the pleats will progressively flatten down and retain such shape,particularly if cold air under pressure is then caused to force the cupblank away from the upper forming member or die at the instant vacuum isemployed through the transfer head I41. An almost completely finisheddrinking cup body or hollow substantially cylindrical vessel can thus beformed, which is then ejected and nested as heretofore described. i

It should be noted that the cylindrical wall portion I93 of thetransferhead I" has a rubber coated edge I94 to effect good sealingcontact without marring the surface finish of the die I.

With regard to the size of the sprockets shown, it is normallypreferable to use larger diameter sprocket wheels, so as thereby topromote a smoothness in the continuous motion of the links.

45 The invention in its narrower a pects, as concerned with the makingof articles from flat sheet materials, dealswith procedures of handling,treating and shaping sheet products of different body structure, but ofrelativelyflrm makeup, or such fibrous or plastic sheet materials, whichare normally only slightly extensible..

Aside from the advantages which the invention has when dealing withpaper, regenerated cellulose and the like, the invention also coversanother embodiment, that is, the making of hollow objects or articlesfrom specially compounded plastic sheet materials. These materialspossess a greater inherent amount of extensibility but. in some cases.they must be treated and even changed in their nature while beingoperated upon in dies or molding elements in order to provide an easiershaping or flowin quality. If

they do have the necessary viscosity and extensibility, for example, ifthey are natural or syn thetic thermosetting gums or condensationproducts, they may be cured, vulcanized or otherwise treated to effectdesired chemical reactions in order to give proper rigidity,flexibility, density both the upper and lower series of formin means ordies should normally be heated, and the paper stock sprayed with asuitable quantity of water just before it is clamped and perforated. Thepressing or shaping operation may mat the, same time 'or thereafter, butthe form-setting period of the dies should continue for a timesufficient to expel the greater percentage of the water from the shapedpaper stock. At this'time, vacuum applied to the lower mold element ordie is advantageous in removing steam or moist atmosphere from the moldsor dies.

In connection, the suction-induced flow of air in the mold elements oidies is of practical utility removing execs moisture from those freelysuspended portions of the paper stock, whic are held between oppositewalls of the mo] g elements and which portions are so lo cate as to beout of direct contact with the walls of either the upper or the lowerdies.

With relationto thermosetting materials, many diiferent shapes ofsmooth-surfaced translucent and/or colored dishes, cups andthe like mayalso 'be foixmed from nearly pure sheeted rubber'\gum compounds. In sucha case refrigerating elements may be located relatively close to one orboth sides of the plastic rubber sheet to give it a temporary conditionof hardness as the sheet is being moved between the clamping members ofthe upperv and lower series of dies, Fig. '23.

The cut blank portion of the rubber compound can readily be drawn andshaped between heated dies, and if properly compounded, will havesufficient elasticity and fluidity to distribute itself in uniformthickness of wall section between the opposing faces of the dies duringthe initial asso-.

ciation with said elements from which considerable heat will radiateinto the previously chilled rubber compound, after which, when subjectedto further heating, vulcanization will proceed and the material willattain the required degree of rigidity while retained between the dies.

Addition of fillers, such as diflerent fibres and many other materialswill make for great economy in the use of rubber as is well known in theart.

With reference to the clampings means 2! and 23, the resilient clampingedges or rubber coating on said edges should be eliminated in alloperations where the heating would destroy the resiliency thereof andwhen operating on sheet material which would have a tendency to adhereto the rubber.

When operating with sheet materials of the thermosetting type, whichrequire a long period of heating to impart the required degrees ofhardness, the'number of successive die-carrying arms should beconsiderably increased, to provide a longer period of associationbetween the dies along the active horizontal run and thus a longerperiod of pressure and heat penetration through the material. Inthis'connection, treating agents such as heated gas, steam or air underpressure and either hot or cold can be used to advantage on many kindsof materials which are cured while exposed to elevated temperatures andpressures. For such operation, several consecutive injection devices ofthe type shown in Figs. 10 to 12 may be caused to operate successivelyon the same die of the lower series during its horizontal run.

In regard to the making of.-hollow articles from I of delivery, where itis ejected by means of low temperature air under pressure and removedfrom the pressing die by means'of a transfer device where suction isemployed, and from which it is nested in any suitable fashion, notneces-v 4 sarily including the step of a positive discharge from thetransfer means by the use of compressed air, unless the article be of avery light weight.

compounded rubber sheeting, whether provided with fabric reinforcementor not, and which has been partly vulcanized, has a certain degree ofelasticity and firmness, and will not normally require the use of acooling device such as heretofore described. Also, such compoimds ascontain large percentages of other materials, besides the gum binders,are directly benefltted by the method steps herein disclosed.

The refrigerating device, Fig. 23, comprises a rotary pump I95 foradvancing a cooling medium through a series of connected pipes ortubular system 196, which are confined inside a casing I99. In order tomake this lower temperature condition more directly effective on thesheet materialsor on the dies of the pressing device,

'air is admitted into an auxiliary chamber I91 through conduits 200.This air is then caused to pass downwardly through small perforationsI98 in the casing I99 and to come in contact or into close proximitywith the pipes I95. Heat is quickly removedfrom the air, so that by thetime this air reaches the sheet material or the dies, it will functionmost effectively to establish the lower temperature required.

The milk bottle cap or cup form shown in Figure 25, has a relativelylong skirted portion 2",

and a relatively large downwardly-pressed center section 202, thepurpose of which is to set fairly well down into the mouth of a milkbottle, so that during expansion such as by freezing or by excessiveheat from the sun, the center section of t the cap will gradually expandoutwardly, the cap having sufiicient material therein to remain sealedon the bottle. If this cap is formed of a thermoplastic sheet material,an excellent seal will be provided around the contracted neck portionbelow the bead of the bottle particularly if a heated smoothing elementis usedin a rotary fashion or as an ironing device to confine theskirted portion to the bottle neck, during capping.

The particular pleated article herein "shown illustrates the uses ofprocess and machine elements, but the invention as a whole is quitediversified and permits the shaping of almost any pleated side walls arenot an essential adjunct in the practice of this process, althoughillustrative in the matter of invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming articles from organic sheet material,comprising a series of die members arranged for movement in an orbitalpath, a second series of die members complementary to the die members ofthe first named series and arranged for movement in another orbitalpath, a part of which is substantially parallel to a part of the path ofthe first named series of die members so that said die members maycooperate with one another during their travel through the substantiallyparallel portions of their paths, means for moving both series of diemembers .through their respective paths at coordinated p ds. eans assciated with said die members severing said areas of said strip from there-- mainder of the strip in forming aplurality of separate articles,said severing-means operating within and adjacent to said grippingmeans, the aforesaid parts being so constructed and arranged that saidstrip is moved along a path by 'the engagement of said G pping meansinde- 1 pendently of the formation of articles from areas thereof and ofthe severance of the material in such areas from the remainder of saidstrip in connection with the forming of the articles.

2. Apparatus for forming articles from organic sheet material,comprising a series of die members arranged for movement in an orbitalpath,

a second series of die members complementary to the die members of thefirst named series and arranged for movement in another orbital path, a.part of which is substantially parallel to a part of the first namedpath so that said die members die members continuously in theirrespective paths, a cup-shaped gripping means associated with each ofsaid die members for gripping the peripheries of predetermined areas ofsaid strip to be shaped'upon the movement of said die members toward oneanother incident to the the die members in their paths may move saidstrip and the use of additional strip moving meansisobviated. I

' 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the means for movingthe die members in respect to said g ipping members are constructed andarranged to effect a partial shaping of a selected area of said stripprior to the action of said severing means, and thereafter, and afterthe partially shaped portion of the strip has been severed from theremainder thereof, to complete a the formingof the severed portions ofsaid strip. known hollow article. It should be apparent that 4.Apparatus for forming articles from organic sheet material, comprising aseries of die members arranged for movement in a non-circular orbitalpath, a second series of die members commay cooperate with one anotherduring their travel through the substantially parallel portions of theirpaths, means for moving both series of plementary to the die members ofthe first named series and arranged for movement in another non-circularorbital path, a part of which is substantially parallel to a part of thepath of the first named series of die members, so that said die membersmay cooperate with one another during their travel through thesubstantially parallel portions of their paths, means for continuouslymoving both series of die members through their respective paths, meansfor causing said die members to form predetermined areas of a strip oforganic material into desired articles, and means cooperating with thedie members of one of said series during their passage through apredetermined non-circular por-

